Taking the Track with Dylan Blankenbaker

ylan Blankenbaker has had quite the career. Whether running cross country, indoor or outdoor track, he's experienced success at all stages. This year alone, he qualified for nationals in cross country, won the 5,000-meter Big 12 Indoor Championship with a fantastic finish, outleaning Oklahoma State's Hassan Abdi to take the event, and set a meet record at the John Jacobs Invitational in the steeplechase. It all culminates this week at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, where he will run the steeplechase, looking to put a final stamp on an already remarkable career. The San Diego, Calif., native, is no stranger to TrackTown and Hayward Field. It was just last year that he finished fourth and set a OU school record in the event with a time of 8:34.69, proving that no stage or no moment is too big. Before he runs on Wednesday, the redshirt senior took some time to reflect on last year's race as well as share insight on his mindset, his training and how he ultimately wants to be remembered at OU.

On how he feels going into this race:

“This is the one we train for all year. Going into this one, I don't want to change anything. I want to do the same things that I've been doing and keep the success that I've had this season rolling. This year to last year isn't much different. I know that I'm ready to run. I know that I'm fit. I've got another year of training under me, so I know I am stronger than last year. This year I just need to go in there and get the job done. I've run well here in the past. I know it is one of those things that I can go and do it again. I just need to get my mind right, get my body right and get out on the track and do what I need to do.”

On what he remembers from last year's race:

“I just remember it as coming together. Going out there and doing what I knew I could do, and not trying to do anything special or out of my mind or anything different. Just doing the same things I've done every time I've gone out and raced. I remember finishing and just having it all hit me that I broke the school record and finished fourth. It was just a great experience. It motivates me to go back and try to re-create that.”

On racing Wednesday to advance to Friday's final:

“Wednesday is a day just like any race. I need to go and finish as best I can in the race so that I can advance. Our coaches always talk to us about treating the prelim as a final, so we're not thinking about the final until we get to the final. Right now, my focus is on advancing on Wednesday, and then preparing myself to run Friday. The focus is on Wednesday, and then I'll think about Friday when it's time to think about Friday.”

On the steeplechase:

"The steeplechase is just an interesting, weird event that requires a lot of mental toughness. It requires athleticism and concentration. A lot of distance events, you can kind of just zone out and try to be numb in your brain for awhile, or tune out everything and just run. The steeplechase is one where every 80 meters you have a new obstacle. And you need to get over that obstacle and move on to the next one. It just requires you always having to be on, ready to compete and perform. Other events really don't. It's not that I don't enjoy other events. They're fun and I really enjoy them, but I think my strength is being mentally focused and physically athletic. That's what makes the steeplechase perfect for me.”

On his training:

“To run the steeplechase is like any other event. You need to be fit enough to run it. You have to focus on the cardiovascular strength and the muscular strength to get through the event and it is crucial that you run fast in the event. The hurdle form and things like that, that's sort of secondary to the fitness. I practice those things and I practice the hurdles. Most of my time is dedicated to the aerobic and the fitness. The mileage is just part of running. As a distance runner, you push the mileage to increase your aerobic base. At this time of the year, the mileage is slowly coming down as you want to pull back on the intensity to prepare and get sharp for these championship races.”

On a lasting memory that he has:

“A lot of my memories from OU were made on the track. That's what I wanted and what I wanted out of my experience. I met a lot of great people and great coaches who have brought me to where I am right now. I wouldn't want to trade that for the world.”

On what he wants his legacy to be:

“What I want to leave as my legacy at OU is I was somebody who was really hard working. Somebody who put the team first and did everything with the team in mind. And that's what I've really tried to do. It's hard at times. If you don't have something to hold on to, then it makes it really hard to perform and really achieve your goals. Having the team at your back is really powerful, and I've always enjoyed having a team, having teammates, and working toward a common goal.”